Puppy Training DC – Beltway Dog Training!

Puppy Training DC – Beltway Dog Training!

Life changes can affect the whole family, including its furry members. I recently worked with a woman who had just adopted a puppy and was planning to move in with her soon-to-be husband. She was concerned because her puppy, G, was showing signs of separation anxiety, poor greeting behavior, and dog aggression, and she was also concerned G’s behavior would only grow more severe when the impending move finally occurred.

I met the pair for an in-home consultation, and, sure enough, G charged the door and barked at my approach. After a while, he settled down, but the initial reaction to a visitor was a bit off-putting. We discussed his other issues—how he often got in fights at the dog park and reacted fearfully to new noises. He only remained calm during the consultation if he was allowed to remain by his owner, which further demonstrated his separation anxiety.

In order to keep him calm, relaxed, and obedient for his owner before and after the move, we began a training regimen involving basic obedience, crate training, and proper leash handling techniques. The owner provided G with a fair amount of exercise, so I wasn’t concerned with increasing his activity level. Instead, I taught his owner how basic obedience lessons can work not only to teach dogs commands, but also to teach them boundaries, build confidence in both the dog and owner, and strengthen an owner’s bond with his/her dog.

Crate training is essential when dealing with separation anxiety because it gives dogs a safe, calm space in which to stay when the owner is away. Of course, crate training must be introduced and executed properly to provide the comfort it’s meant to. The leash is yet another communication tool that can improve the relationship between a dog and his/her owner as well as establish boundaries, when used correctly.

By the time G and his owner moved into their new home, they had established a great level of trust through the various training techniques, and this allowed the transition to occur easily.

To learn how I can help your pet solve his/her unique behavioral problems, give me a call today at 202.318.1380. I can develop a program that will work for you.